Bread Builders: Hearth Loaves and Masonry Ovens

Creating the perfect loaf of bread—a challenge that has captivated bakers for centuries—is now the rage in the hippest places, from Waitsfield, Vermont, to Point Reyes Station, California.

Like the new generation of beer drinkers who consciously seek out distinctive craft-brewed beers, many people find that their palates have been reawakened and re-educated by the taste of locally baked, whole-grain breads. Today's village bakers are finding an important new role—linking tradition with a sop…